BAA Executive Director Tom Grilk was right ó it was a privilege beyond reckoning to be at the center of it all.

Boston Red Sox premier designated hitter David Ortiz was right ó well, you know what he said

Coming into race week, I was confident that the preparations would assure a safe event, and despite extraordinary security it would still retain its intimate and family friendly character.

As a member of the organizing committee, I knew that I would be very involved in activities starting on April 15 right through race day, and I was fearful. I knew that reclaiming our beloved race would be an extraordinarily emotional process, and I had hoped that I was prepared to handle it.

Race week began on April 15 with "The Tribute" that was held at the Hynes Auditorium. The program featured music conducted by Boston Pops maestro Keith Lockhart, and there were presentations by local and national leaders, as well as several survivors.

Then, the 2,500 guests walked from the Hynes to the marathon finish line in Copley Square, where an American flag was raised and wreaths were laid at the memorials of those who were lost ó Krystal Campbell, Martin Richard, Lingzi Lu and Sean Collier.

It was a beautiful program, but the most important part for me came later.

At the reception that followed the program, I saw a familiar face. It was John Odom. I had never met him, but I felt I knew him because the previous evening I watched the National Geographic special that documented the hunt for the Boston bombers. Johnís story was highlighted.

John Odom was at last yearís race to watch his daughter when the first explosion tore through his legs, causing massive damage that left him in a coma and his doctors uncertain that he would survive. His wife Karen stayed by his side in the hospital for weeks.

Though I thought it would be difficult, I knew it was important for me to talk to him. I reached out my hand and told him how thankful I was to see him looking so well. His wife was still by his side, and I told them how I felt as if I knew them. They hugged me. They thanked me. They told me how blessed they felt to have been embraced by Boston. They told me that they were certain had this happened in their home city of Los Angeles they wouldnít have received the same degree of love they got in our hometown.

Then I saw Bill Richard, Martinís Dad. I could not imagine the pain he must have endured with the loss of his eight-year-old son, his daughter Janeís leg amputation, his wifeís loss of sight in one eye, the emotional scarring of his older son Henry and his own hearing damaged that has left a constant ringing in his ear. Iím not even brave enough to try to imagine his sorrow.

Page 2 of 2 - Though apprehensive, I knew that I had to talk with him.

We spoke for quite a long time, and what I found out was a profoundly wonderful man who has taken an unspeakable family tragedy and found a way to move forward.

The family has founded the MR8 foundation, and had already raised nearly $1 million. He introduced me to his son, Henry, and we talked about his track and cross-country running at school. I didnít get to speak with Jane, but that was because she was joyfully running around the room, not slowed a bit by her prosthetic leg.

Though John Odom and Bill Richards thanked me, it was I who owed them a huge debt. Their ability to move forward was incredibly uplifting, and it lifted my own cloud of sadness. Nobody will forget April 15, 2013, but they demonstrated that we now could move forward with heads held high.

My race day assignment was a very different one this year, and I was concerned that I would be too removed from the race. I was in charge of a new baggage drop program, which required runners who were being bussed from Boston to Hopkinton to leave their gear bags in our secured tents on Boston Common. After the race, it was a three-quarter mile walk from the finish line to our baggage tents.

But I couldnít have been at a better location.

Part of my job was to greet the thousands who came to our corner of the Common, and make sure that they were OK while I helped them locate the correct tent that held their gear bag.

The temperature climbed throughout the day, which made the hike that much more arduous.

Though we kidded about making the race an Ultra-Marathon, I heard no complaints. What I heard was praise for the way the race was organized, praise for the support of the spectators, praise for the city of Boston and from many a promise to be back again next year. It was a joyous experience.

But the icing on the cake was the United States taking back the crown when Meb Keflezighi, 38, ran the race of his life to wear the winnerís olive wreath.

I believe my wish has been granted. We will never forget 4-15-14, but we will go back to saying "Boston Marathon" without using the word "bombing."

Tom Licciardello is a founding member of the Merrimack Valley Striders. Licciardello has participated in 35 Bostonís and 88 marathons. He has also completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Professionally, he is a Certified Financial Planner and resides in North Andover with his wife, Lyn. He may be reached at tomlicc@verizon.net.